Stephen Bennett calls on Mark Bailey for more upgrades to Rosedale Rd after numerous fatalities

It’s a stretch of road that is getting increasing traffic as more domestic travellers explore local holiday destinations but it has a terrible track record and now there are calls for more upgrades to the “far from suitable” road.

Local residents and Burnett MP Stephen Bennett have called on the state government for upgrades to Rosedale Rd after a number of fatalities and serious crashes along the stretch.

In 2016, 19-year-old Dylan Hicks was killed in a horror crash on Rosedale Rd. 

Less than two months later a 69-year-old man from Branyan died after another crash on the stretch of road.

Already this year one life has been claimed on the road after a crash between a motorhome and a magna in April.

According to RACQ data, crashes on Rosedale Rd claimed five lives between 2015 and 2019 and some in the community have said enough is enough.

19-year-old Dylan Hicks was killed in a crash on Rosedale Rd in 2016.

Now as a higher volume of traffic uses the stretch to get between tourism hot spots, locals have called on the state government for more upgrades.

Local motorist Karen Brown said the road was far from suitable considering the large volume of traffic.

“This road experiences huge traffic movements and is often used as an alternate route when there is a bad accident on the Bruce Highway,” she said.

“1770 and Agnes Water is being promoted as a tourist destination, however the road simply can’t keep up with the current volumes of traffic.

“There are several sections where it is extremely dangerous for motorists to travel, including Bottle Creek where cars and buses have been side swiped or forced to take evasive action due to the narrow bridge.

“This road is dangerous, it’s only a matter of time before we see another accident or worse if urgent action isn’t taken soon.”

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett said he recently held a community forum to hear from people who use Rosedale Rd every day.

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett said he had written to Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey calling for critical investigations and action.

However, Mr Bailey said more than $1 million was committed for Rosedale Rd upgrades in this year’s state budget.

“I recently held a community forum to hear from people who drive the road every single day, one thing’s abundantly clear; unless urgent action is taken, we will see another tragedy,” Mr Bennett said.

“The road recorded more than 50 fatal and serious injuries between 2015 and 2019, that statistic is heartbreaking.

“There’s nowhere near enough visibility, there are no overtaking lanes and there are very few places where it is safe to pull over.

“The road is far too narrow in many places, there are numerous blind intersections, and the surface is dotted with rough patches and potholes.

“I have heard of stories of people getting sideswiped while trying to cross bridges, people being forced to run off the road to avoid collisions and more near misses at unsafe intersections than you can count.

“The Transport Minister has made claims of millions of dollars being spent on our local road network, but where are the results?”

Minister Mark Bailey said more than $1 million had been committed for the Bundaberg-Miriam Vale Rd in this year’s state budget as part of a $140 million investment to upgrade roads in the region.

According to TMR data, a number of investments have been made to upgrades for Rosedale Rd in the last five years.

“What we’re seeing is more than $60 million going into the Bruce Highway and more than $40 million going into the Isis Highway upgrades, all of that work I know will be very welcome by the community,” he said.

“We work with the community and in this case we’re seeing $140 million going into the area over the next four years.

“Bruce Highway upgrades, Isis Highway, Bargara Rd and Bundaberg-Miriam Vale Rd, all getting substantial funding.”

Originally published as Stephen Bennett calls on Mark Bailey for more upgrades to Rosedale Rd after numerous fatalities